Ever Ready Sky Emperor--Rarity?

[batterymaker1]

Asking the abovementioned question--how rare are these sets? Wouldn't mind finding one to mess with. Ironically, I've seen two of the Vidor FM portables.....

[Paul_RK]

Well, there are some around, but not that many. Hard question to answer I have two, which turned up locally, as did almost every radio I came to own before I discovered the wonders of eBay a touch under three years ago. One's in the photo below and the other's outwardly a wreck, though it did donate this one's Sky Emperor badge. I'd guess at a production figure in the region of three or four thousand, which should maybe include the ever so similar Berec Commander.

Paul

[paulsherwin]

Originally Posted by batterymaker1

Asking the abovementioned question--how rare are these sets? Wouldn't mind finding one to mess with. Ironically, I've seen two of the Vidor FM portables.....

I'd say they're pretty rare in practice. I've never seen one in the flesh. They were expensive sets both to buy and run, and the FM provision was of little practical use when programming was simulcasted on AM.

A lot of battery sets survive though, having been put away in the 60s when a replacement transistor set was bought and forgotten about.

Paul

[batterymaker1]

Second question--how big are they? I imagine they'd be pretty large, considering it had FM on it, and the consumer would want something that sounded better than the average handbag portable. Plus, I read that the things used the gi-nourmous B103 battery pack.....

[Paul_RK]

That's right. Quite big for a '50s portable, 15 1/2"x 12 1/2"x 6 3/8". Nothing too intimidating if you're used to valved Transoceanics

Paul

[batterymaker1]

That's about what I figured. Their tone must be pretty rich in fidelity.

[Paul_RK]

I've not heard this one anywhere near its best yet: it was working a bit when last tried, but doubtless could do with a fairly substantial overhaul. Quite a few little black Hunts condensers in there The push-pull DL96s are promising, but the loudspeaker's nothing very special, a 7"x4" unit I think I recognise as from Elac. One way and another I'm not at all confident it would be a better performer than the much smaller German competition from the likes of Philips and Akkord.

Paul

[igranic]

I have both a Berec Commander (in brown) and a Vidor Vanguard, but have never seen another Berec Commander or Sky Emperor. I have seen only two examples of the Vidor Vanguard.

I guess the name 'Vanguard' says it all; they were almost the last of the valve portables, and a range of transistor sets were already available when they came to market in 1957/58. They are both big sets, and heavy with batteries installed, so would have been difficult to sell in any quantity, hence (i.m.h.o.) their rarity.

My Vidor is currently on the bench awaiting completion of repairs and realignment. Meanwhile, the Berec is on the pending shelf and also looking for a badge.

I can't yet speak for the Berec, but the Vidor sounds good and is really sensitive, the extra stages giving good account of themselves, although it only has a single-ended DL96 output stage .

I just need to find the cause of that motorboating!!!

[Station X]

As batterymaker1 is looking for one I'll post a link to one on eBay:-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Everea...mZ190145161419

[batterymaker1]

I saw it, thanks for the link, but I'm gonna have to hold off. My wife would toss me out in the yard if I brought in another set, and we don't have a dog, so no living in the doghouse for me.....

[plumbweiss]

Ive got the Berec version!

[chipp1968]

Looks like the e bay one was still used at least in the late 60s

[Nickthedentist]

Originally Posted by chipp1968

Looks like the e bay one was still used at least in the late 60s

Late 70s by the look of that BBC label on the right

[Station X]

Please don't discuss the Radio on eBay. Forum rule C5 refers.

[batterymaker1]

Let's just close this thread. I'm resigned to the fact that I won't be getting one in the near future, and the eBay part of it's just opened a 55-gallon drum of worms....

'Tain't worth it.